The first option is to collaborate with others before you submit your paper proposal to create a proposed session in which your paper is part. If you are successful at organizing a session then follow the submission instructions below for Session Proposals. If you are successful at becoming part of a panel organized by someone else, follow the instructions below for Individual “Assigned” Paper Proposals. 

Unassigned Paper

The second option is to submit a proposal without having determined your fellow panelists.  You will be assigned to a panel after you submit your proposal—for this option, see the instructions on Individual “Unassigned” Paper Proposals. Keyword selection is important for all submissions but particularly so for unassigned paper proposals.

The Importance of Keyword Selection:

For each submission, you will be asked to select two keywords.  Please note that your submission will be sent to a committee member based on the first keyword that you select.  The second keyword is used to suggest alternative placements if the fit with other papers appears better.

For example, if you are submitting a paper proposal on Islamic law and punishment in the “War on Terror,” you will have several relevant keywords to choose from.  If you want to be part of a panel with other scholars studying Islamic law, choose the keyword “religion.”  If instead you want to share your research with people studying punishment, choose the keyword “punishment.”  If you would prefer to talk with people doing research on terrorism, choose the keyword “security and terror.”  A clear abstract and careful selection of keywords will help the Program Committee to create more effective panels. 

Option One  Individual “Assigned” Paper Proposals:

If you are to be a presenter in a paper session organized by another, you still must submit your own paper.  The session organizer will supply the necessary session tracking number for completing the submission process.  Choose “assigned” on the paper submission form and enter the session tracking number, which will attach your paper to the session. The session organizer cannot enter your paper for you.

For the “assigned” paper submission form, you will need:

• the session tracking number
• a paper title
• an abstract of 100-250 words
• keyword selection(s) (in order of relevance)
• co-author(s)’ contact information (if you have co-authors)
• AV requirement, if any

For the detailed steps in submitting an "assigned" paper proposal, click here.

If you are unable to find other panelists, and decide to submit an individual “unassigned” proposal, your abstract will be sent to the Program Committee.  They will attempt to match your proposal with other topically-related individual submissions.

Keyword selection is particularly important for optimal placement of your paper (see above).

For the “unassigned” paper submission form, you will need:

• a paper title
• an abstract of 100-250 words
• keyword selection(s) (in order of relevance)
• co-author(s)’ contact information (if you have co-authors)
• AV requirement, if any

For the detailed steps in submitting an "unassigned" paper proposal, click here.

• have a written copy of the paper or detailed description of the presentation one month prior to the meeting

• circulate the paper or relevant text among the other session participants as directed by the session Chair

• prepare a public presentation of the paper (simply reading from the paper is not acceptable) or parallel text that conforms to the time constraints and the particular format or approach arranged by the session Chair

• make a large print version of any material to be distributed in the session for attendees who may be visually impaired

• in the event a paper author cannot attend, it is expected that they will contact the session chair and the LSA Executive Office to formally withdraw well in advance of the meeting and in time to be replaced.  A paper must be presented by its author(s); it may not be presented by another panelist.

Proposals with Paper Presentations must include:

• a session title
• a 100-250 word description of the session
• keyword selection(s)
• a Chair
• a Discussant (who may also serve as chair)
• Three to five individual papers that are "assigned" by the Session Organizer, but no less than three
• include CRN sponsorship (in session title) when relevant

For the detailed steps in submitting a Paper Session proposal, click here.

It is suggested that Paper Session Proposals be submitted early in order to allow time for the paper authors to submit their proposals before the deadline.

IMPORTANT: Papers in a session proposal must be submitted by the authors and cannot be submitted by the organizer.  Once the organizer submits a panel, the panel will be assigned a session tracking number.  The session organizer must provide the panelists with this session tracking number for them to register their papers properly.

Session Keywords are used to identify subject matter in program searches and to minimize overlapping scheduling as much as possible. Select the first keyword with care.

Roundtable Discussion Sessions

Proposals for Roundtables must include:

• a session title
• a 100-250 word description of the session
• keyword selection(s)
• a Chair
• at least three Participants
• include CRN sponsorship (in session title) when relevant

For the detailed steps in submitting a Roundtable Session proposal, click here.

Book Sessions

Proposals for Book Sessions must include:

• a session title comprised of the title(s) of the book(s) and author(s)' name(s)
• a 100-250 word description of the session
• keyword selection(s)  
• a Chair
• the book Author(s)
• at least three Readers
• include CRN sponsorship (in session title) when relevant

For the detailed steps in submitting a Book Session proposal, click here.